2015 was probably my best year ever. Thus far. I only know because I definitely didn't have as much fun in 2014.

This isn't to say that nothing bad happened to me this year. Actually, I think this year has seen a greater concentration of shitty things for me than any other years. I started the year being really sick (tonsillitis!), and more bad things happened throughout the first half of the year. But the friendships I have made and deepened this year have truly outweighed all the bad.

Since this is a food blog, though, I'll stop with the sentimental whatevers and share some of my food-related highlights of the year:

Manifeast Destiny

1. Starting Manifeast DestinyThis blog was a long time coming. The IG account has been running for a while, but I needed a more creative outlet. There was a Blogspot that never took off, and I hope this is finally it!

Spiced Pear Upside Down Cake

2. Bon AppetitI signed up for a subscription on a whim last year, and it really fueled my love for cooking and baking. I started a personal challenge to either make whatever was on the cover or one dish from each month's issue. My favorites have been the blueberry-pecan galette from the July 2015 issue, and the spiced pear upside down cake from October 2015. Also from October: the chicken leg confit with potatoes that I made to impress a boy (I think it worked!)

Blueberry-Pecan Galette

Grassa, Portland

3. Out of Town FavoritesI had the opportunity to check out several food scenes outside of L.A. this year, and they did not disappoint. Some standouts include Grassa and Toro Bravo in Portland, Beecher's Handmade Cheese in Seattle, and L'opossum in Richmond. More info on these places soon!

Beecher's Handmade Cheese, Seattle

L'opossum, Richmond

Bi-Rite Creamery, San Francisco

4. Ice CreamI can wax poetic on my love for ice cream for days. It is now and forever will be my dessert of choice. When Salt & Straw opened just 10 minutes from my apartment, it was game over. At each city I visited this year, I made sure to visit their most popular ice cream spot: Molly Moon and Mora in Seattle, Bi-Rite Creamery in SF, and the original Salt & Straw in Portland.